PHOTO: This is what should be a Town school and place for treatment by traditional midwives
By Janet Warner/FeJAL Newsroom Leader
Residents of Popaken Town in Liberia’s southeastern Sinoe County have cried out daily due to the absence of a health center and safe drinking water.
The residents have spoken intimated that the need for health facilities in that part of the country cannot be overemphasized. They averred that health is essential to the growth and development of any nation. Popaken is a bordering town between River Gee and Sinoe counties, located in Jedepo Statutory District #2, and is one of Sinoe’s three political districts.
With an estimated population of 10,000 people living in the area, and without a health center and safe drinking water, the lives of the inhabitants are at risk, mainly for pregnant women and children. According to residents, the Government of Liberia needs to address their plight. Speaking to journalists of the Females Journalist Association of Liberia, the people in that part of the country called on government and partners to pay heed to their condition and help save them from future collapsed.
The population indicated to our reporter that their community is exposed to cholera outbreaks and other waterborne diseases as residents get water from creeks for drinking and cooking.
Popaken Town Chief Dennis Toe stated that for the last three years, a Chinese owned mining firm has operated in the district extracting gold but has failed to adhere to agreements. The Ministry of Mines and Energy records show that De-Mining Company’s Class B license was obtained in April this year, even though all class B licenses must be renewed every five years, according to Liberia’s Minerals and Mining Law, the company has been awarded the Gold Mining License in 2024.
Mr. Toe described the lack of a health center and safe drinking water as an impediment to the growth and development of the town and its people. According to a UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program report in 2017, less than 10% of Liberians have access to safely managed drinking and sanitation services.
To mark the observance of this year’s World Water Day in May this year, the focus is on supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for all by 2030, with Liberia far behind and yet to achieve big percentage, indicating that Liberia may not achieve this SDG goal by 2030.
Chief Toe acknowledged the citizens’ plight about the lack of health center and hand pumps and is calling the Liberian government, international NGOs, and D-Mining Company to construct a health center and provide safe drinking for the people in that part of the country.
Meanwhile, Jedepo Statutory District Superintendent Sam P. Wesseh has expressed frustration over the concession agreement, urging immediate intervention in the interest of the people.
FeJAL Reporter observed that some projects are completed, while others are only halfway done. D-Mining Company built a modern school and toilet but paved only a few kilometers of roads in the area as others remain incomplete.